Shelton ‘simply hustling’ on method to Australian Open quarter-finals

Ben Shelton’s dream run on the Australian Open gathered tempo Monday with victory over JJ Wolf in an all-American conflict as he grew to become solely the fourth man up to now 20 years to succeed in the quarter-finals on debut.

The unseeded 20-year-old — on his first journey exterior the US — prevailed 6-7 (5/7), 6-2, 6-7 (4/7), 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 in sapping warmth on John Cain Area.

Shelton is into the final eight in solely his second look at a Grand Slam and can play both one other unseeded American, Tommy Paul, or Spanish twenty fourth seed Roberto Bautista Agut for a spot within the semi-finals.

By reaching the final eight he joined simply three different males to make the grade in Melbourne on debut over the previous twenty years — Ukraine’s Alexandr Dolgopolov (2011), American Tennys Sandgren (2018) and Russian Aslan Karatsev (2021).

“It was positively a gruelling match. There have been a number of swings all through the match,” he mentioned after the 3hrs 47mins marathon.

“I actually targeted within the fifth set, simply being energetic, trusting my health and simply hustling, being brave and I assumed I did a very good job of competing on the highest stage within the fifth set.

“Positively all the time powerful taking part in a buddy. I’ve recognized JJ for some time. He is an ideal man.”

In his solely earlier Grand Slam look, as a wildcard on the US Open final 12 months, Shelton crashed out within the first spherical.

A 12 months in the past the left-hander was in school on the College of Florida and ranked 569 on the earth, however he has risen to 89 together with his repute rising rapidly.

Nothing separated them within the opening set with Shelton’s one break level the spotlight because it went to a tiebreak.

In the end, Wolf’s power-hitting acquired him over the road.

Set two additionally started as a battle of small margins, however Shelton acquired the primary break of the match in recreation six when Wolf netted a volley then slapped a forehand broad, breaking once more as Wolf started wilting within the afternoon warmth.

Wolf eliminated his sneakers and left the courtroom on the changeover, returning with new apparel and footwear.

In a digital carbon copy of the opening set, it went to a tiebreak the place Wolf once more prevailed.

Shelton then took the fourth in one other slim tiebreak earlier than placing his foot to the ground within the fifth.

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